Traffic Matters

Magistrate Court

The Oro Valley Magistrate Court is located at 11000 N. La Canada Drive, two miles south of the intersection of W. Tangerine Road and La Canada Drive. The Court is located directly in front of the three flag poles facing La Canada Drive

If you fail to pay your Civil Traffic fine or fail to come to court on your court date, you will receive a notice telling you that if you do not pay your fine within two weeks after your court date a $20.00 fee will be added to the amount owed. Failure to notify the court immediately to take care of this matter will result in the SUSPENSION of your DRIVER LICENSE, and additional monetary penalties.

If you forgot to come to court on your court date call the Court at 229-4780. If you do not contact the Court, for criminal violations a warrant for your arrest may be issued. For civil traffic violations, the Court will notify the Motor Vehicle Division that you are in default. They will suspend your driver's license.

No. Oro Valley Court does not process small claims. You may obtain small claims forms in person at Pima County Justice Court or online at www.jp.pima.gov. You may request the hearing be held at Oro Valley Magistrate Court. A hearing officer from Pima County Justice Court will hear your case. If you have questions about small claims, please contact Pima County Justice Court at 520-724-3171.

Yes, the Magistrate Court has a full-time Bailiff who maintains the security of the court. If you are entering the courtroom, you will be required to pass through a metal detector. The Bailiff will ask you to place any objects into a receptacle while you walk through the detector. A hand held wand may also be used to aid in the search for prohibited objects on your person.

Banned from the court building.

Weapons. This includes guns, knives, chains, mace and baton. Other items such as tools, kitchen utensils, nail files, key holders, scissors may also be restricted.

IF YOU ARE IN POSSESSION ON ANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS, PLEASE SECURE THEM IN YOUR VEHICLE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE COURT BUILDING.

The following objects are not allowed inside the courtroom.

Food and drink. Commercially bottled water (16 oz maximum size) may be brought into the courtroom. No personal beverage or other containers permitted. Soda in cans or cups may not be brought in.

All fines are due on the day they are imposed. Payment plans may be available for those unable to pay their fine in full. Please contact the court at 520-229-4780.

You may pay a fine by Cash, Money Order, Cashier's Check, Personal Check, Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). Credit Cards are accepted to pay fines and fees online only at our two Web vendors. A charge from these vendors will be associated with online payments.

Please do not pay by cash through the mail. Checks should be made payable to Oro Valley Magistrate Court.

If your fine is listed on the orange bond card you received from the police officer, you may mail in your payment. If you mail your payment you will be admitting responsibility to the civil traffic charges you have received and your will not have to appear in court. If your fine is not listed on the orange Bond/Fine Schedule, then you must appear on your court date.

Traffic Matters

Yes, if you are eligible you may attend defensive driving school. To see if you are eligible, and to learn more about Defensive Driving School, read below.

The Oro Valley Magistrate Court allows people who have received tickets for some moving violations to attend Defensive Driving School.

Who can go to school?
You are eligible if:

Your citation was for a civil moving violation.

You have not attended a defensive driving class for an Arizona citation in the last 24 months (amended to every 12 months, effective 7/1/2015 per the Arizona State Legislature).

Your citation was not issued as the result of a collision in which any person was seriously injured or killed.

Your case has not been set for a civil traffic hearing.

You do not have a CDL (Commercial Driver License).

You are at least 18 years of age at the time of the violation.

Under 18 year of age must have parent permission - please contact the Court for more information.

If you are eligible and complete the school to the satisfaction of the Defensive Driving School and Supreme Court requirements, your traffic violation will be dismissed.

What if I have more than one violation on my citation?
If you have more than one violation on your citation you must handle all other violations before the court date on the citation.

Can I have extra time to attend Defensive Driving School?
You can call the Oro Valley Court and request an extension. The court will give you a 30 day extension from the date you called as long as you call before your court date. The first extension issued by the court is no charge, however any additional extensions have a $17.00 fee payable in cash, credit card or money order. You must complete the class 7 days before the end date of the extension.

How can I enroll?
To confirm eligibility to attend Defensive Driving School and/or register for class, phone 1-888-334-5565 or go online to www.azcourts.gov/drive/home.aspx.

NOTE: Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) will require you to attend Traffic Survival School (TSS) if you are found responsible for Red Light Violation(s) 28-645A3A or 28-647. If you are eligible for Defensive Driving School and complete the class, the violation will be dismissed and MVD will not require you to attend TSS.

Why should I go to Defensive Driving School?

You will not have points assessed to your driving record.

You will not have to go to the court as long as this is the only violation.

The following is important information for you to know if you have received a driver license and/or registration suspension for driving without insurance pursuant to ARS § 28-4135A, 28-4135B or 28-4135C.

Effective September 30, 2009, Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) § 28-4135 requires the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) to administratively suspend the driver license and registration of any person convicted of a violation of A.R.S.§ 28-4135 (A), (B) and (C) upon receipt of the abstract of the record of judgment. The monetary penalties associated with the violations of the above referenced statute remain the same and are:

$930 + surcharges and court fees, for a first offense

$1390 + surcharges and court fees, for a second offense

$1850 + surcharges and court fees, for a third offense

Effective September 30, 2009, the statute also allows the court to reduce or waive the penalty imposed for a violation of A.R.S. § 28-4135 if the person provides proof of both the following items:

The defendant (driver) has not been found responsible of a violation of A.R.S. § 28-4135 within the past 24 months OR has not had more than one violation of A.R.S. § 28-4135 within the past 36 months as evidenced by the person's driving record.

The defendant has purchased a six month policy of insurance that meets the requirements of A.R.S. § 28-4009.

The statue allows the courts to:

waive the monetary penalty

waive only the driver license suspension

waive only the registration suspension

waive both the driver license suspension and the monetary penalty

waive both the dirver license suspension and registration suspension

impose a lower monetary penalty, or

any combination of the items listed here

Upon receipt of the record of judgment, MVD is responsible for entering a suspension of the defendant's driver's license and/or registration/plates in their system. In order to ensure that the defendant is in compliance with the suspension and to receive timely notification from MVD, the defendant must ensure that MVD has their most current address.

The suspension of the defendant's driver's license/registration/plates is not effective until MVD mails the Corrective Action Notice to the address of record. Service of the notice is considered complete upon the mailing of the Corrective Action Notice. The Corrective Action Notice will provide information of the effective date for the suspension and reinstatement requirements (e.g., fees, SR22, proof of insurance, etc.).

Defendants may be eligible for a MVD issued restricted license if they obtain a SR22, proof of insurance and they comply with the additional criteria established by the MVD.

To determine eligibility and for any other questions regarding suspension, defendants should contact MVD at:

by taking the automobile to any police officer or Sheriff’s Deputy and have them verify the repair by signing the back of your pink citation.

by taking or faxing a copy of the invoice for the repair to the Oro Valley MagistrateCourt

by paying the fine/sanction for the vehicle equipment violation. (See orange pamphlet or Bond Schedule).

You must have the repair(s) done within seven (7) days of receiving the citation and submit proof to the court before your court appearance or it will be treated as any other civil traffic citation.

If the repair has been made, the citation for the equipment violation will be dismissed. If you fail to have the repair made, the citation will be processed as any other civil traffic violation. (see the orange pamphlet or Bond Schedule).